The Period Structure process is a small but integral change that is coming with the new Student Information System (SIS), Thesis SM. If you currenly set up time periods in GeneSIS, then this short and sweet summary is for you! We’ve highlighted the most important changes to ensure you’re prepared for go-live.
There are many changes coming with the implementation of the new Student Information System (SIS), Thesis SM. There are several big changes, such as Student Self-Enrolment or Domestic on Demand, but that’s not all. There are a number of significant changes happening in Academics; more specifically, Curriculum. For a bit of extra context, we’ve already covered several Curriculum topics at past Showcase events, like Program Curriculum Setup and the Curriculum Stabilization Project!
Now, let’s go over all the big changes the new SIS is bringing to Curriculum.
It’s easy to forget that with change comes new terminology. Our new Student Information System (SIS), Thesis SM, comes with a plethora of new terms that are unique to the system, so it’s imperative to become familiar with those terms to fully understand all the features of the new system.
Our focus today is on Curriculum. There are a handful of new and important terms related to this topic, so we will provide a helpful list and break down what each one means. By the end of this post, you should be better equipped to understand Curriculum terminology!
The new Student Information System (SIS), Thesis SM, will completely change the way learners register for courses. Introducing: Student Self-Enrolment! This means that learners will have full freedom and flexibility to choose their courses each term. This new process will consist of two steps: Pre-enrolment and Re-enrolment. We will delve into what these two new terms mean and how they work.
Not only is this a big change for our learners, but it’s also a big change for employees. The Registrar’s Office (RO) will still be involved in Student Self-Enrolment, just not in the same way. Instead of completing registration for learners and sending out finalized timetables, the RO will instead be there to support learners and troubleshoot when necessary.
On May 26, 2026, members of the R3 Project Change Champion Network (CCN) came together in person for an interactive session focused on collaboration, communication, and preparing the College community for the changes ahead.
As Algonquin College continues preparing for the implementation of Thesis Student Management (Thesis SM) and the Thesis Student Portal, Change Champions play an important role in supporting awareness, readiness, and engagement across the College.
Changes are coming with the new Student Information System (SIS), Thesis SM, and one of the biggest shifts is how learners will enroll in their courses. Instead of the college registering them automatically, learners will now take the lead through a two-step process: Pre-enrolment and Re-enrolment. It’s a move toward more learner autonomy, and while it’s a change, it’s also a great opportunity to support learners in building ownership of their academic journey.
Our May 2026 R3 Project Showcase event was hosted by Krista Pearson, Vice President of Student Services and R3 Project’s Executive Sponsor, who welcomed more than 200 participants.
This event’s topic was all things Admissions, including new terminology and key changes. Several Admissions topics have already been presented at previous Showcase events.
Kiana Lepage-Valenzuela, Technical Writer, R3 Project, led attendees through an interactive review of the new Admissions terminology.
Lisa Wellman, Coordinator, Admissions, provided an overview of the key changes to Admissions processes that Thesis SM and the accompanying Thesis Student Portal will bring.
Dr. Patricia Anderson, Organizational Change Management Lead and Senior Implementation Consultant with Thesis, and Funto Dabiri, Implementation Consultant with Thesis, delivered a live demo of the portfolio submission and review process in the Thesis Student Portal and Thesis SM.
The event ended with a Q&A session, where attendees were invited to ask any Admissions-related questions.
As always, we want to thank our attendees for tuning in to learn more about the new Student Information System. We appreciate every question and value these opportunities to provide more information to the wider college community.
Change is exciting, but it can also feel challenging. With the introduction of our new Student Information System (SIS), Thesis SM, and the accompanying Thesis Student Portal replacing ACSIS, we’re stepping into a new way of working at Algonquin College. This shift brings fresh processes and a new set of terminology. Think of it like learning a new language: it feels unfamiliar and daunting at first, but the more you practice, the more fluent you become.
And that’s where gamification comes in! By turning learning into a game with challenges and points, we make the process less overwhelming and more engaging.
Imagine going to the gym for your brain instead of your body. You’ve got stations for cardio (quick thinking), strength (deep understanding), and flexibility (adaptability). Now imagine each station is a challenge built around learning new terms for the future Student Information System (SIS), Thesis SM. That’s where the R3 Project’s Word Workouts come in!
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The implementation of the new Student Information System (SIS), Thesis SM, will bring significant changes to the way processes work. For now, our focus is on Admissions, which will have an impact on both learners and employees. We have compiled a summary of the biggest Admissions changes to set you up for success!
Admissions covers a wide range of processes, so make sure to check out the first part to learn about the other changes that are coming. This second and final part focuses on some key components to the Admissions process, as well as common features that some learners might use during their applicant journey.
